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Can't Update iPhoto because it is not available in the App Store

by: Barney-15E

Last modified: Oct 20, 2015 3:15 PM

50 138556 Last modified Oct 20, 2015 3:15 PM

If you didn't update your 9.x version of iPhoto prior to updating OS X Yosemite to 10.10.3, you cannot update the app through the App Store. Support for iPhoto was dropped with the release of Photos in Yosemite 10.10.3.

While you still cannot update iPhoto, you can re-install the app which will download the current version.

Note that you must have some version of iPhoto 9.x for this to work. If you never purchased the 9.x version of iPhoto, you will not be able to update it to the Yosemite version.

First, go to the App Store, Purchases tab, and make sure iPhoto is in the list of purchased software. It may be hidden, so check for that: Hide and unhide purchases in the Mac App Store - Apple Support.If it is not in your Purchases list, this will not work, so don't bother continuing.

Just as a precaution, copy iPhoto from your Applications folder onto an external disk or USB stick and eject that drive.

Move iPhoto from your Applications folder into the Trash. Make sure there are no disks mounted that have a copy of the iPhoto app on them before going to the App Store.

Make sure no other users have iPhoto open in the background. It is best to have all other users logged out.

I ended up having to Restart before I could clear iPhoto from the App Store memory (it was still showing Update on the button in Purchases).

If it is still showing as Update, try searching Spotlight for iPhoto. There may be a copy on a mounted external disk that it is identifying.

You should now be able to go to the Purchases tab and find iPhoto with the Update button labeled "Install"

Click "Install" and it should download the current version which works with Yosemite.

When I first tried, after authenticating, it posted a 503 error and asked if I wanted to Retry. When I clicked "Retry," it started downloading.

It's about 1.2 GB, so it takes a little while to fully download.

*Updated to address Hidden Purchases as pointed out by sberman

*Change the title to reflect common search terms and incorporateted OT's suggestion.

Old Toad

Level 10

(207,313 points)

May 13, 2015 1:39 PM

I also recommend repairing/rebuilding your iPhoto library with iPhoto before converting it to Photos. Launch iPhoto with the Command+Option keys held down and run the following options in the First Aid window:

1 - Option #1 - Repair Library Permissions

2 - Option #4 - Rebuild Library Database.

This will help facilitate a clean conversion of the iPhoto library to the new Photos library format.

May 13, 2015 1:39 PM

sberman

Level 10

(263,625 points)

May 25, 2015 1:13 PM

One addendum to the post above:

It says: "First, go to the App Store, Purchases Tab, and make sure iPhoto is in the list of purchased software. If it is not, this will not work, so don't bother continuing."

There is an exception to this. It could be that you hid iPhoto from the list of purchased software. If you did, go to Store > View My Account from the App Store's menu. Select "Unhide any hidden, redownloadable purchases."

May 25, 2015 1:13 PM

Old Toad

Level 10

(207,313 points)

Jul 6, 2015 9:33 AM

Also this statement:

Move iPhoto from your Applications folder into the Trash. Make sure there are no disks mounted that have a copy of iPhoto on them.

might be changed to read:

Move iPhoto from your Applications folder into the Trash and make sure there are no disks mounted that have a copy of iPhoto on them before going to the App Store to look for iPhoto 9.6.1.

because this is where a lot of users fail when trying to determine if iPhoto 9.6.1 is available at the App Store.

Jul 6, 2015 9:33 AM

Aug 19, 2015 1:55 PM

Thank you Barney-15E !

At last: wonderful iPhoto back again!

Aug 19, 2015 1:55 PM

Old Toad

Level 10

(207,313 points)

Oct 19, 2015 11:20 AM

Barney-15E!:

You might remove the red text at the top of this tip as iPhoto 9.6.1 can be downloaded from the App Store. Also this note might help users remember to move their current iPhoto app to the Trash bin before going to the App Store:

NOTE: the key to this procedure is to move the existing version of iPhoto 9 to the Trash bin in the Dock (don't empty yet) before going to the App Store.

Oct 19, 2015 11:20 AM

Barney-15E

Level 10

(112,506 points)

Oct 20, 2015 3:02 PM

That text doesn't show for me. I thought the moderators removed it. But, it now shows as being edited and needs to be published.

Oct 20, 2015 3:02 PM

Can't Update iPhoto because it is not available in the App Store

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